Man May Drop Effort To Get Building Funds

December 8, 1985|By Kelly Leon, Staff Writer

FORT LAUDERDALE — The owner of 13 acres of land at Southwest 24th Street and Southwest 18th Avenue who had applied for a tax-exempt government bond to build an apartment complex for lower-income residents said he probably will not pursue the financing.

If the development is financed by the Broward County Tax Exempt Multi-Family Revenue Bond Program, 20 percent of the units would have to be rented to tenants with annual family incomes not exceeding $23,600, according to Lennard Robinson, assistant director of the county Housing Finance Authority.

The remaining units would be rented to moderate-income tenants with yearly family incomes not exceeding $44,250, Robinson said.

Robinson said John Hinson, owner of the property, has applied for the financing.

Hinson said he is concerned that a proposal before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee will change the maximum income of tenants to a level lower than he would prefer.

Robinson said the proposal would base maximum income in federally subsidized housing on family size, which could result in lower income requirements. He added that the specifics have not been decided and may not be until July.

Hinson said he had planned on an average family income of between $30,000 and $35,000 for his tenants.

``If the (maximum) income requirement becomes lower, I would probably not to use the financing,`` Hinson said.

That would be all right with City Commissioner Jim Naugle.

He said he doesn`t believe the proposed 306-unit apartment complex, known as Osceola Park Apartments, would be an asset to the neighborhood.

``I would rather see a lower density housing project such as town houses,`` Naugle said. ``I don`t believe in government financed (housing) projects.``

Residents of the area say they are opposed to the apartments no matter how they are financed.

In a letter to Mayor Robert Dressler, Frank Sopkiw, president of the River Oaks Civic Association, said, ``This is a unique and beautiful neighborhood. We are still a neighborhood in the true sense of the word. It is not that we object to more neighbors, but we doubt if we can handle more than 600 of them.``

Sopkiw said if the complex is built, the area could not handle the increased traffic and flooding would increase because of already existing drainage problems.

He also said Hinson`s plan to put in a water main in an area that is still on a septic tank system would cause problems because of the narrow streets.

Sopkiw added that at least 120 units would be placed on land that is now virgin forest. He said the forest serves as a noise and pollution buffer against State Road 84 and Interstate 95.

The land, which Hinson bought last summer, is zoned for multi-family use.

He said he is exploring other methods of financing the apartment complex but would not say when he hopes to begin construction.

``If I develop it, it will be a credit, in my judgment, to the community,`` Hinson said.